Originally Posted by
Papa Tom
I'm no doctor and I don't subject myself to many punishing, hilly rides, but I suspect it's all the sugar in the soda and the rugullah that caused the cramps. Soda also has salt, if I'm not mistaken, which would sap some of the hydration that keeps you from cramping.
I don't usually drink soda, on any day but for some reason, that's what I grabbed yesterday at the bakery. So, naturally, I now associate soda with the cramps but it doesn't sound like a fair conclusion, so that was one of the things I thought I would share with the members here and get some feedback. Ask and learn, my motto.
The reason I took the Mountain Dew was for the sugar and caffeine. I doubt I'll drink soda during a ride again and that is easy for a guy who doesn't normally drink any soda to do.
It was a long and climbing ride but at a relaxed paced with several stops. It was 80sih degrees and moderate sweating but I thought I was prepared for replacing electrolytes and hydration. Maybe it just wasn't enough?